What followed was surprisingly simple.
With overwhelming evidence against them, Kodai and his bodyguard were arrested on the spot. All of their Pokémon were confiscated and taken into League custody. Over the past twenty years, Kodai had committed countless crimes using his ability to foresee fragments of the future—there was no way he could withstand a full investigation.
His companies, properties, and assets were seized one by one and transferred to the Pokémon League.
As for Peter and Whitney, the two whistleblowers, they were jointly awarded a bounty of one million Poké Dollars.
Naturally, the mysterious disappearance of more than three hundred million Poké Dollars was never solved.
Peter's grin nearly split his face in half.
This time, he had really fleeced Kodai right before the man's downfall—clean, ruthless, and immensely profitable. On top of that, he had shamelessly used Kodai's massive media network to funnel traffic to his own SNS account.
Although the exposure window was short, Peter's follower count surged rapidly, brushing close to the one-million mark. His newly released video on Baton Pass strategies sparked heated discussion across trainer forums, quickly becoming a trending topic.
After everything related to Kodai was settled, Peter and Whitney brought Zoroark and Zorua back to the Pokémon Center.
Because of the Ghost Elixir, both mother and child were still in poor condition.
Peter exchanged points in the system shop for a second Form Changer Device, then handed it to Whitney.
"This thing can change Zoroark and Zorua into Normal/Ghost-type Pokémon," he explained.
"Once that happens, the Ghost-type toxin inside them will stop being poison and turn into nourishment instead."
"Huh?" Whitney blinked. "There's… something like that?"
She looked at Peter again—this time with a hint of unfamiliarity mixed into her gaze.
After this incident, she realized something clearly.
Peter had far more secrets than she had imagined.
It was as if he were shrouded in a layer of mist—vague, elusive, impossible to see through.
…Is this really the same boy who once begged outside Goldenrod City?
For the first time, that doubt surfaced in her heart.
She felt strangely unsettled.
Peter smiled and gently ruffled her hair.
"Just try it later—you'll see."
"Besides," he added, glancing at Zoroark,
"It's obvious Zoroark already acknowledges you. If everything goes smoothly… you might even become partners."
"Eh?" Whitney froze, instinctively turning to look at Zoroark.
Zoroark raised its head at the same time.
For a brief moment, human and Pokémon locked eyes.
"But…" Whitney hesitated, lips pressed together. "Wouldn't you need it more to boost your strength?"
"There's no 'but'," Peter said lightly.
"As for me—I already have my choice."
As he spoke, his gaze dropped to the small fox resting in his arms.
There was also another, more practical reason.
Zoroark's strength had largely plateaued. Breaking through to the Elite Four tier would be extremely difficult. Capturing it would give Peter a short-term power boost—but in the long run, a Zorua raised from the beginning had far greater potential.
"Zorua, what do you think?" Peter asked, rubbing its fluffy head.
"Zoru~…"
The little fox chirped, nodded halfway—then glanced hesitantly at its mother.
Zoroark's gaze lingered between Peter and Whitney for several seconds before it finally nodded slowly.
"Zor…"
"Zoru~!"
Zorua's eyes curved happily as it rubbed its face against Peter's neck.
"Zor…"
Zoroark watched its child with clear reluctance.
"Don't worry," Peter said reassuringly.
"Whitney and I are family. You two won't be separated."
Whitney nodded quickly. "If you miss Zorua, you can see it anytime!"
Only then did Zoroark finally relax.
After teaching Whitney how to use the Form Changer Device, Peter took out the second one.
"This will help neutralize the Ghost toxin in your bodies," he said gently,
"but it will change your appearance."
He placed his own hand-drawn sketches on the floor—depictions of Hisui Zorua and Hisui Zoroark.
"Take a look first. Can you accept this?"
Zoroark studied the drawings briefly, then nodded.
"Zor."
"Zoru zoru!"
Zorua, on the other hand, was visibly thrilled—its little tail wagging wildly as it urged Peter to hurry. It clearly loved the white fox design.
Peter chuckled. "Alright… let's begin."
He exchanged a glance with Whitney. Both nodded and simultaneously placed the two devices atop the Pokémon's heads.
[Ding—Form Change in progress. Please wait…]
Soft light enveloped Zoroark and Zorua.
The dark, sinister energy of their former Dark typing slowly shifted into shades of gray and white. In that instant, it felt as though all light in the room vanished—leaving only two figures being quietly eroded by shadow.
Gradually, the gray fur began to fade into snow-white hues. The deep crimson mane transformed, turning brighter—burning red, like living flame.
Peter watched silently, a smile steadily spreading across his face.
The Hisui region—the ancient name of modern-day Sinnoh—never appeared in the anime. It existed only in the eighth-generation game Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
In that era, the Zorua line possessed a unique gray-white-orange coloration, with a Normal/Ghost typing—utterly unique among over a thousand Pokémon.
Immune to Normal, Fighting, and Ghost moves.
Only Dark-type attacks were super effective.
With STAB access against nearly all types and a natural mixed attacking stat spread—
Hisuian Zoroark was an undeniably terrifying partner.
As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Peter's anticipation grew stronger.
"Wooo—"
A fox-like cry echoed as the gray-white radiance twisted and was absorbed into the two bodies—one large, one small.
Slowly, two eerie yet majestic figures emerged.
Snow-white fur gleamed softly. From their chests flowed long, flame-like crimson manes that danced in the air, releasing ripples of spectral power that stirred the soul.
Zorua's eyes turned a pure, radiant orange. Its red, dot-like brows and half-lidded gaze made it look both pitiful and adorable.
Zoroark, meanwhile, lost its former sleek handsomeness.
Its white fur flared with fiery red tips, wild and untamed—like a revenant from the underworld. The sheer pressure it exuded was overwhelming.
"Whoa… it's so cool…" Whitney breathed, eyes sparkling.
Peter nodded quietly. "Yeah…"
"Zoru~!"
Zorua ran in circles chasing its flowing tail before flopping down at Peter's feet, panting.
It clearly hadn't fully recovered yet.
"Zor…"
Zoroark clenched its claws, sensing this completely unfamiliar body.
"How does it feel?" Peter asked with a smile.
"Zor!"
Its aura surged outward—it could clearly feel how fundamentally different it had become.
"As long as you like it," Peter said warmly.
"Then let me ask once more, properly."
"Zoroark. Zorua.
Are you willing to become partners with Whitney and me?"
He crouched down and extended his hand toward Zorua.
Whitney mirrored him, reaching out to Zoroark.
"Zoru!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Zorua leapt into Peter's arms and began enthusiastically licking his face.
"Zor…"
Zoroark stepped forward and clasped Whitney's hands.
Unlike its inexperienced child, it understood humans far more deeply.
If Peter embodied intelligence and strategy, then Whitney was the embodiment of purity and kindness.
From her initial panic, to her immediate help, to her care when it was injured—this wandering Zoroark had experienced a warmth it had never known before.
As for Zorua, the reason was even simpler.
The fox clan was highly intelligent by nature. It admired Peter's schemes, loved his Pokéblocks, and owed him its life.
Following this boy to see the world?
That sounded wonderful.
Peter and Whitney exchanged a smile, raised their Poké Balls, and spoke in unison:
"From now on, let's work together—Zorua!"
"From now on, let's work together—Zoroark!"
--------------
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